Diet
What do tree swallows eat?
Flying insects; bayberries in cold snaps.
Swallows (Hirundinidae)Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor
Spring and summer diet
- Flies, mayflies and dragonflies
Fall and winter diet
- Bayberry and wax myrtle fruit
Best feeder foods
- Crushed eggshells in spring
Tree swallows readily take bluebird-style nest boxes; mount boxes in pairs 15–25 ft apart to share with bluebirds.
Where tree swallows need winter food
Regions where tree swallows are present in the cold months:
Frequently asked
What do tree swallows eat?
Flying insects; bayberries in cold snaps.
What is the best food to feed tree swallows?
Crushed eggshells in spring.
What do tree swallows eat in winter?
Bayberry and wax myrtle fruit.
Sources
- Tree Swallow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Tree Swallow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Tree Swallow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.